Posted on 06/21/2018 10:11:15 AM PDT by marktwain
On 16 November 2016, an off-duty security guard, Melvin Stephens, shot and killed a man who charged at him up stairs at his apartment complex. The incident occurred in Austin, Texas. The two had been in a confrontation earlier. The man killed, Dedric Earl, had scissors that were discovered at the scene. Stephens called 911 to report the shooting.
Stephens was arrested and jailed because of statements he made to police. Bail was set at $125,000. It was more than Stephens could raise or afford. He spent over one and a half years in jail, from November 2016, to June 2018. From mystatesman.com:
Defense lawyer asked for testing of bloody scissors found in area of shooting.
Stephens, 49, had no criminal history when he fatally shot Dedrick Earl in November 2016.
A man who fatally shot a man armed with scissors was acquitted of murder and got to go home Friday after a year and a half behind bars.
After deliberating for three hours Thursday, the Travis County jury weighing Melvin Stephens’ self-defense claim needed just 15 minutes Friday morning to return the not-guilty verdict.
“Really happy for Melvin,” his lawyer Robb Shepherd said. “He gets to go home to his family.”
The defense overcame a police interview shown on video to the jury in which Stephens, 49, told investigators he regretted shooting Dedrick Earl and that he “didn’t have to” do it. The two had been feuding at a North Austin apartment complex after Earl and another man vandalized Stephens’ Ford Taurus with
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
3 hours for jury to find not guilty.
Dedrick’s momma never taught him it was dangerous to run with scissors....
800 years since Magna Carta required a “speedy trial”;
I guess we haven’t kept up yet.
And the DA has immense power to pressure jailed persons to confess to something and plea bargain— otherwise, you’ll serve a sentence anyway.
Justice, USA, 21st century.
Sounds like another case where the advice is to not to talk to the police without counsel.
Please, let him sue lib Austin.
“I feared for my life. And I want to talk to a lawyer...”
Then shut up.
******
Stephens was arrested and jailed because of statements he made to police
I hope his kids were with him in jail that time.
Splitting them up would have been cruel and inhuman
Yep. Never talk to police until your lawyer is present.
“Please, let him sue lib Austin.”
Agreed.
Sounds like another case where the advice is to not to talk to the police without counsel.
...
Yep. Say nothing but I feared for my life. If arrested, say nothing but I want a lawyer.
2. Never lie to the police.
3. When in doubt, see #1
My thoughts as well. Never talk to the cops. They are not your friend. They haven’t been for decades but we are only now realizing it.
I watch this video about once a year. It’s incredibly interesting and informative. It shows some reasons that I never thought of, regarding why talking to the police, even innocently, can get you convicted.
“Don’t Talk To The Police”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7o9xYp7eE
Same thing applies with the FiBs...
Especially the feebs.
“Never talk to the police”
I’ve watched that show on TV called “48 Hours” where they try to solve murder of LaTrey in 48 hours. Usually, they talk to a few people who say Jamal and LaTrey had an argument the day before, so they locate and pick up Jamal, and Jamal confesses without a lawyer. Before the confession, the detectives had NOTHING.
Years ago, I met a prison guard and asked him what most of his inmates were in prison for. He answered, "Talking."
Yeah ...
Cops are scum.
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